Retire Early
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Livin’ Large, Spending Little Billy and Akaisha Kaderli A swimming pool, hot tub, tennis courts, exercise room, immaculate gardens, Wifi internet connection, all for less than most homeowners pay in property taxes annually. The days of the 1945 Lafite Rothschilds are gone as well as the ‘72 Heitzes, but we are thankful for those extraordinary memories. We drank more than our share of fine wines when we owned our restaurant. There were three day trips up the coast to Napa Valley, California, staying in Bed and Breakfasts eating in restaurants in the forefront of cuisine history. Alice Water's Chez Panisse in Berkley, Margaret Fox's Mendocino Cafe Beaujolais were the norm. The outstanding vacations in southern California at the Santa Barbara Biltmore hold an exceptional place in our minds. And the many two-week sailboat cruises through the Caribbean will never be forgotten.
Active Adult Communities are springing up all over the country Oh, those were the days; "livin’ large", spending a lot. Or were they? Today we live in an Active Adult Resort Community, with the above amenities and more. We are purposely based near an international airport with shuttle service so it's easy get out of town and travel the globe.
Activities are never a problem as there always seems
to be a tennis match, bar-b-que, pool party, a dance or movie being presented.
Several golf courses are nearby and newer, well-stocked grocery stores
are within walking distance. Assorted restaurants dot a 3 block range, as
well as a popular dinner theater and we are 20 minutes from world class
shopping. It’s easy to get comfortable here. But then there’s the international travel that calls and we want to pursue it as much as possible before we get too worn out to be able to handle it. Today's cost of air travel can quickly erode funds, so we prefer to stay extended periods in far away locations. Our approach is unhurried, taking our time to know an area seeing what it offers.
New Zealand Lamb prepared exquisitely to order in Chiang Mai In Chiang Mai, Thailand for example, eating in an upscale restaurant with nouvelle cuisine including wine might set us back $35.00, but that’s for two. In glamorous Phuket, an ocean view room overlooking the Adaman Sea with air conditioning, satellite TV, mini bar and more can be had for $560.00 per month. Or a beautiful teakwood resort in Chiang Khong overlooking the Mekong River for $15.00 per night, breakfast included. How about those hour long, $9.00 massages that Thailand is famous for? If you didn’t think you were livin’ large before one of these, the massage girls will make you a believer. Livin’ Large, on Less When I hear of stories about people who struggle to get by on $50,000+ per year in retirement income, living in a McMansion, I question their desire for change. There are so many nice places out there - and these folks are stuck! It’s no secret that we are making living on less than $30,000 annually an art form. We could spend more, but as a good friend asked me, “WHY?” We prefer the footloose, unencumbered lifestyle filled with variety, unique people and exotic choices that world travel offers. At any point we can walk away or settle down into whatever option proves appealing. This is our style and we're sticking to it.
Warren Buffet lives in the same house that he purchased in the 50’s, and I am sure many have wondered “why” as well. I don't know his answer, but in our case a big house, new car or fancy clothes are not a reflection of one’s wealth. They seem more like a burden to us, filled with time-consuming responsibilities.
Best Friends and Partners We prefer to have our lives based on experiences and interactions with people instead of on things. I am much more comfortable in shorts and a five-dollar silk shirt, than a suit and tie. In our travels and in life, we have noticed that truly wealthy people do not flaunt it. More likely than not, they live a quiet life, not showing off their riches, and are just normal folk. I know this is a generality, but you get the idea. Back in the old days, when we were “livin’ large” we were like two ships passing in the night. There were long periods of time when we barely saw each other; not the type of environment that encourages romance. These days we share our adventures and perspectives. Our marriage has improved. That, in itself, is worth the simpler lifestyle. We may no longer be “big spenders,” but the returns are larger than ever. That's why we're RetireEarlyLifestyle.com! What's Your Number? - How much money do you need to retire? For more on Retirement Topics, click here and here About the Authors
Billy and Akaisha Kaderli are
recognized retirement experts and internationally published authors on
topics of finance, medical tourism and world travel. With the wealth of
information they share on their award winning website RetireEarlyLifestyle.com,
they have been helping people achieve their own retirement dreams since
1991. They wrote the popular books, The
Adventurer’s Guide to Early Retirement and Your
Retirement Dream IS Possible available on their website
bookstore or
on Amazon.com.
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